textproduct: Quad Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- Dangerous life threatening cold continues this morning, with wind chills -25 to -40 degrees. An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect for the entire area through Noon today.

- Bitter cold temperatures and wind chills will continue through the weekend, but not quite as cold as this morning. A Cold Weather Advisory is now in effect for the entire area through Saturday morning.

- A large storm system will brush the area with snow chances this weekend of 40-80% probabilities of 1" or more of snow along and south of Highway 30.

- Unsettled and cold weather pattern continues next week, with several chances of snow.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 142 AM CST Fri Jan 23 2026

The full brunt of Arctic cold is advecting into our area this morning, with temperatures down through I-80 already dipping below zero at Midnight, with northern areas already approaching -10F. This is occurring with winds of 20 to 30 mph, and some gusts to near 40 mph! Wind Chills have already fallen into the -20s and -30s, with the worst conditions in our north already reaching -35 to -39F! Aloft, at 00Z, our local upper air showed borderline Arctic air in place already, with -18C at 850mb, while upstream, MPX measured -28C at 850mb... That's really really cold!!

This strong surge of Arctic air will continue to CWA through mid morning today. Thus, as has been already forecast, our coldest wind chills are not overnight, but between 6 AM to 9 AM when the coldest air aloft rotates down over us. Winds are strongest now, but will continue to be 15+ mph with gusts to 25 mph through 9 AM today. By Noon, temperatures are expected to still be below zero over areas north of I-80, but near zero or +single digits south. This rise, combined with winds weakening towards 10 mph, will reduce the life threatening wind chill impacts, with -15 to -25 through the rest of the afternoon and tonight. Thus, current headlines will be retained as is, including the advisory following up the end of the warning at Noon. There is some chance northern areas could need a warning extended into the afternoon, but this is only if temperatures do not warm above -12 by Noon. A record cold high most likely was not set at DBQ since they were -6 at Midnight CST, though daytime temperatures should be under that level.

Tonight through Saturday morning, the very strong Arctic high pressure will be over Minnesota into Wisconsin. Though some high clouds will stream over the area at times, this should set the stage for a very cold night, with lighter winds. Wind chills will be less impactful, but still in the advisory range of -15 south to -25 north.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 142 AM CST Fri Jan 23 2026

Though strong high pressure remains over Wisconsin and MN through the weekend, a large storm system is set to move through areas south of our region. The main questions tonight, is how far north this storm will spread light snow into the cold air. Some models have shifted this northward over much of the CWA, with several inches of snow, while global models remain farther south, and show a glancing blow of snow in our southern counties.

The mean guidance now shows 40-80+% for 1"+ up to Highway 30, with southern areas potentially seeing a 50% chance of amounts over 3 inches. This is not a heavy snow rate system, but rather a long duration event, and this has me leaning to thinking that the dry Arctic air feeding into the northern edge of this system will probably win out and keep much of the area either dry, or with very low amounts.

Otherwise, our forecast temperatures through Sunday are cold, with highs in the single digits and teens, and lows in the zero to -12 range. Additional wind chill headlines are likely needed through Monday morning, and at this time, these appear to be in the advisory range of -15 to -27 from south to north.

The extended portion of the forecast is not overly confidence on timing and placement of any snow chances, and does not currently reflect mentionable pops. That said, in cold air, and with some energy dropping into the upper trof to our east, some clipper-type snow is possible. Though not currently suggested to be as potent of Arctic air as now, this pattern will continue to show highs and lows below normal, in the coolest part of our climatological calendar.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 458 AM CST Fri Jan 23 2026

VFR conditions will prevail through the TAF period, with some scattered low clouds around 2000-3000 ft working through early this morning. Otherwise, we will be left with mid-high clouds through the remainder of the TAF period. Main concern will be with the gusty north-northwest winds this morning, with gusts upwards to 25 KTs. Winds will decrease through the morning to about 10 KTs by 18z, decreasing more as we approach 00z.

CLIMATE

Issued at 206 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026

Record Cold High Temperatures:

January 23: Dubuque: -8 / 1963

DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IA...Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST today for IAZ040>042- 051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099. Cold Weather Advisory from noon today to noon CST Saturday for IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099. IL...Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST today for ILZ001-002-007- 009-015>018-024>026-034-035. Cold Weather Advisory from noon today to noon CST Saturday for ILZ001-002-007-009-015>018-024>026-034-035. MO...Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST today for MOZ009-010. Cold Weather Advisory from noon today to noon CST Saturday for MOZ009-010.